Our Team
Seth Ismart
5th Degree Black Belt
Sensei Seth Ismart is the owner and head instructor at D&S Karate Studios, bringing over 40 years of experience in martial arts and a passion for helping students grow both on and off the mat. With degrees in education, he designs every class to be developmentally appropriate, engaging, and empowering—ensuring students of all ages and skill levels thrive in a positive, disciplined environment.
Sensei Seth is known for his high-energy teaching style, expert technique, and deep commitment to character development. Under his leadership, D&S Karate has become a place where students build confidence, respect, and perseverance—skills that extend far beyond the dojo.
Outside the martial arts world, Seth is also an accomplished sketch card artist for official Marvel trading card sets, contributing original, collectible artwork for titles like Marvel Greatest Battles, Black Panther, Marvel Allure, and Fleer Ultra Matriarchs of Marvel. Licenses worked on include Star Wars, Star Trek, Game of Thrones, DC Comics, Lord of the Rings, Scooby Doo, and The Walking Dead.
Whether he’s mentoring young martial artists or illustrating superheroes, Sensei Seth brings the same focus, creativity, and heart to everything he does.
Katie Lacy
4th Degree Black Belt
Katie has been a dedicated martial artist since 2004. A 4th degree black belt, she is a decorated competitor with numerous regional and national titles, two NASKA World Championship titles, and two Gold Medals representing Team USA at the WKC World Championships. She is proud to represent the nationally sponsored Next Level Karate Team.
Her passion for education extends beyond the dojo. Katie is also a nurse specializing in chronic illness care at Johns Hopkins University. She holds a Master of Science in Nursing and is currently pursuing her Doctor of Nursing Practice, expected in 2027.
Katie leads women’s self-defense classes and coaches sparring for a competitive martial arts team. Her classes are known for their energy, precision, and inspiration. She especially loves mentoring young martial artists, encouraging them to compete and strive to be their best.
Fun Facts:
When she’s not in the dojo or at the hospital, Katie enjoys stand-up paddleboarding. Her favorite animal? Giraffes!
Jake Kahan
5th Degree Black Belt
Jake’s martial arts journey began in 1993 and has been a part of D&S Karate since 2017. He holds the rank of 5th degree black belt in tae kwon do. As a sport martial arts competitor, Jake came to D&S already having earned NASKA World Championship titles in creative & Korean traditional forms, creative weapons, and team synchronized forms. Under the tutelage and coaching of Sensei Seth and Sensei Katie, Jake earned a NASKA World Championship title in point sparring in 2018.
Jake earned a BA in business management from Washington College and is the Vice President of Rock Creek Management Company, a marina management and restaurant group. He works as the General Manager of Fairview Marina and the Executive Chef of Sam and Maggie’s Dockside Grill, a casual fine dining restaurant in Pasadena, Maryland.
You can find Jake in class, with his children, Abby and Gabe, training hard and helping develop the next generation of martial artists, both young and old.
